Tag Archives: NARS Event

Activities, Antennas, Education and Training, Field Day, General, On The Air, Station Equipment

NARS Winter Field Day Plans

Brian, W1XMM, has opened up his station for NARS members to operate Winter Field Day  (WFD) on Saturday and Sunday January 27th and 28th so that members can operate WFD with the club callsign, N1FD.  Brian’s station is in a great location, in Antrim, NH and should provide for some great operating.

What is Winter Field Day?

Winter Field Day is an annual event, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association on the last full weekend in January to encourage development of emergency operating skills.  It is open to frequencies on the HF, VHF and UHF bands.  Here is a summary of the rules. The full rules can be found here.

  • All stations are limited to a maximum of 100 Watts PEP
  • QRP CW limit of 5 watts multiplier of 2
  • QRP Phone limit of 10 watts multiplier of 2
  • Each mode worked on each band counts as 1 multiplier
SteppIR DB18
SteppIR DB18 at W1XMM

W1XMM Station

The following stations and associated bands will be available at W1XMM:

  • SteppIR DB18 40/20/15/10/6m with an Elecraft K3S
  • SteppIR Vertical 80/40/20/15/10/6m with a Yaesu FT991a
  • Log Periodic 50MHz -1.2GHz
  • Inverted V: 80M and 160M (one cable out to both)
Log Periodic Antenna at W1XMM
Log Periodic Antenna at W1XMM

Great Opportunity for New and Experienced Hams!

This is a great opportunity for newly licensed or inactive amateurs to get some operating experience and a top-notch station.  Brian and other members will be available to coach those who are new to HF and VHF operating.

W1XMM Operating Equipment
W1XMM Operating Equipment

Emergency Communications

NARS member Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, who is also the ARRL New England Division Assistant Director for Emergency Communications and Public Service, is encouraging amateurs throughout New England to operate Winter Field Day to developer emergency operating skills.   

We have been challenged by the ARES group to also set up an NVIS antenna and communicate with other ARES operators at set times.  This would be both VHF/UHF and HF.  The ARES is going to use this opportunity to test their communication skills here in New England.

SteppIR Vertical Antenna at W1XMM
SteppIR Vertical Antenna at W1XMM

Join Us

Interested in joining us for Winter Field Day?  Please sign up by Thursday January 25th at 7:00 pm.  Here’s what you can do:

  • Sign up for operating times – See this Forum Post for the link to the sign-up sheet.
  • Join us on Thursday, January 25th  at 7:00 pm for our final Winter Field Day meeting.  See this Forum Post for the Zoom link.  Or contact Brian at [email protected] to get the details if you cannot make the meeting.
  • Show up at Brian’s QTH in Antrim before your operating slot.

 

Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, Youth Activities

Nashua Area Radio Society at HMS STEM Night on March 13th

Dan Pooler (AC1EN), a teacher at Hudson Memorial School in Hudson, NH, and a Nashua Area Radio Society member, worked with the school and other NARS members to present an exhibit to students and their families promoting HAM Radio and highlighting some of the activities of our club to them. Dan reported that “STEM Night at HMS was a big success.

HMS Steam Night
HMS Steam Night

We had over 100 5-8th graders attend the HMS STEM Night, with over 400 people attending the event. Students and their families could watch SubZero Ice Cream demonstrate how they created ice cream, learn how pickles are made, program robots, shoot off Alka Selzer Rockets, make math art, and play games with family and friends along with visiting the NARS booth.”

Lining up for HAB Exhibit
Lining up for HAB Exhibit

Fred Kemmerer (AB1OC): shown here explaining aspects of our High-Altitude Balloon activities to some students. Anita Kemmerer (AB1QB), Mackenzie Pooler (KE1NZY), and Sam Hergenhahn (KC1PVZ) also participated at the event .

HMS STEM Night
This big

Dan Pooler (on the left) at the High-Altitude Balloon exhibit.

Morse Code Exhibit
Morse Code Exhibit

NARS Exhibits at Hudson Memorial School STEM Night

Our exhibits included:

  • A Fox Hunting display
  • A remote HF Radio Station, where students heard amateur radio operators from Australia, Greece, Lebanon and other countries.
  • An ISS /Satellite exhibit including a Raspberry-Pi based video of the HMS ISS contact video,
  • A Morse Code display with keys and practice exercises.
  • A High-Altitude Balloon display
Remote HF Radio Station
Remote HF Radio Station

Special thanks and appreciation to NARS Vice President Jamey Finchum (AC1DC), who worked with Dan and the school to plan NARS’ participation in the event.. Thanks also to Fred (AB1OC) and Anita (AB1QB) Kemmerer, who graciously took the time to provide the displays and attend and share their love of the hobby with the students and their families.

HMS Principal Keith Bowen told me in an email after the event, “It was great having your group participate in our STEAM night. Students and families enjoyed their experiences.”

Hudson Memorial School will also be the location for NARS Summer Field Day 2023. Please check the forums on n1fd.org for updated info.

SUMMER FIELD DAY WEEKLY PLANNING MEETING THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 7:00 PM – Nashua Area Radio Society (n1fd.org)

Activities, Featured, General

Bob Heil to Speak to Nashua Area Radio Society on March 7th

Our March Membership Meeting will feature Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID.  Bob will speak to us about Antennas and Installation Techniques and Radio Settings .

Ham Nation
Ham Nation

Dr. Bob Heil is well know to amateurs as the former host of Ham Nation and the founder of Heil Sound.

Heil Sound makes world class Ham Radio and Professional audio equipment including headphones, microphones, and related equipment.

Heil Talk Box
Heil Talk Box

But did you know that Bob has made a name for himself in the world of Rock and Roll? He has created touring sound systems for several rock and roll bands such as the Grateful Dead and the Who.  Bob invented the Heil Talk Box, which was used by many rock and roll musicians.  He even has a display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Bob Heil Organist
Bob Heil at the Organ

An accomplished organist, Bob played for us at the end of meeting the last time he visited us.  You can see the recording on our Videos page – look for the March 2022 Membership Meeting.

Bob Heil is a great storyteller and his previous visits to the Nashua Area Radio Society were truly memorable.  Don’t miss Tuesday’s meeting.

To learn more about Bob Heil and his incredible accomplishments, visit his QRZ and Wikipedia pages.

The membership meeting will take place on Tuesday March 7th starting at 7:00 pm. It will be a hybrid meeting, at the Nashua Library in the NPL Theater as well as on Zoom.  For more information, including the Zoom link, see our main page and scroll down to the section titled Plans for Online Meetings and Tech Nights.

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide